§ Mr. CallaghanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to assist the manufacturing industries in the north-west region.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonManufacturing industries in the north-west will continue to benefit from a large part of the region retaining assisted areas status. Companies in those areas are eligible for financial assitance under schemes such as regional selective assistance and regional enterprise grants.
Manufacturing industry in the region will also benefit from objective 2 areas which allow for improvements in infrastructure. The north-west has a number of areas designated by the EC, including west Cumbria as far south as Barrow, large parts of east Lancashire, the greater and more industrial part of Greater Manchester, the smaller industrial part of west Lancashire, Widnes and Runcorn, Ellesmere Port and Neston. Of course, objective 1 scheduling has already been designated for the Merseyside county.